A woman was killed by officers Tuesday after authorities say she pointed a handgun at officers who fired back. She also had allegedly shot at two men prior to police arriving.

Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said at least four officers — two police and two deputies — shot at the woman. It appeared they were about 50 to 75 yards from her, based on accounts from the scene. How many wounds she suffered is not clear.

Williams said officers were called to an area near several storage units at the intersection of Sunshine and U.S. 60 just after 2:30 p.m. after a man reported a woman had tried to shoot him. An owner of a radio station nearby had previously told the News-Leader that two men fled a woman shooting at them by running into the station.

The station broadcast some accounts of what was happening, including that police were running around the area with shields and weapons.

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Radio station GM, RC Amer describes the shooting incident which happened about 3:00 p.m.

Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to talk to the woman. The woman, whose name has not yet been released, went in and out of a building as police tried to speak with her.

At one point, the woman came out and allegedly drew a gun at officers, at which time she was shot.

Williams said he doesn't yet know if the woman fired a shot at officers.

Williams held a news conference at the scene. Police later released this summary of what happened:

"When officers arrived, they made contact with the female who then entered the office area of the storage facility, refusing to come out. When she did exit, she brandished her weapon and pointed it at officers. Two SPD officers and two GCSO deputies fired at the female."

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Law enforcement officers from Springfield police and the Greene County Sheriff's Office at the scene of an officer involved shooting.
News-Leader

Williams at the news conference said he doesn't know why the woman was allegedly shooting at other people prior to police arriving.

No one was injured except the woman. Police say her name will be released when next of kin are notified.

Because the scene is near city limits, both police and deputies were called. As such, the investigation will be conducted by both departments.

"This is kind of unique that we will be working with the Sheriff's Office," Williams said. "And presenting these findings at the same time." Typically, after such shootings, the police present "findings" to the county prosecutor, who reviews police conduct and determines if the force was justified or not.

The metal storage units are close to the KADI-FM radio station, which plays Christian music, at 5431 W. Sunshine St. R.C. Amer, owner of Vision Communications, which includes the station, said a man rushed into the station about 3 p.m.

Amer said the man wanted to call 9-1-1. "He had been shot at," he said.

Amer explained there is a storage unit just behind the station and that two men — the second one came in later — rushed from the units after the initial shots were fired.

"He said there was a lady back there shooting at him and he'd scaled the fence," Amer said.

Amer said the second man initially ran a different direction before reuniting with his friend at the station. "He didn't show up until later because he'd tried to find cover some place else," he said.

Following the shooting, the woman's body was visible on the ground, behind a red Ford pickup, as officers looked around the property. There was a door nearby. The area was taped off.

At 4:10 p.m., a DJ on KADI radio station broadcast "there were a couple of guys being shot at by the storage unit and they came in here to take refuge."

He added: "Police were running around with a lot of assault rifles and shields."

Police were cutting down a chain link fence at the storage unit "when I heard a number of gunshots," the DJ told listeners on air. "Everyone is safe."

Spate of officer-involved shootings

The fatal shooting of a woman Tuesday by Springfield police is the third officer-involved shooting in the Springfield area in nine days.